Excellent Brunch

I have been eating at Northern Spy since it opened and can say it is one of my fav places in the city. Their brunch is excellent -- particularly the Corned Beef Hash (ask for hot sauce!), Kale Salad (regrettably now they charge extra for the eggs, which are pretty much necessary), and the Chicken and Egg Sandwich. Northern Spy takes simple foods, such as the ones just mentioned, and executes them wonderfully, often adding new twists to otherwise humble dishes. Their prices have crept up slightly and service can sometimes be a bit snotty, but I must say they consistently have the best brunch in the East Village -- and that's saying quite a lot.
ps. their basic drip coffee is also ridiculously good.

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152 out of 320 people found this review helpful.

Don't bother

My dinner partner and I were very disappointed with Northern Spy. While the environment was lovely and the staff semi-friendly, the food was a waste of our money. The risotto was not just bland, it was blah. My partner had the pork which was so fatty it felt like each bite was bathed in slime. The flat bread with carmelized shallots was like thick pizza bread - just OK.
Such a shame because the setting is great, it's a lovely location, and while the prices were fair, the food simply was not. I won't go back.

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178 out of 337 people found this review helpful.

cute place

I had dinner here and found it to be a cute and inviting place. They focus on local food and liquor and make house-made seltzers. I had meatballs and a glass of wine and ordered dessert, plum cake with very yummy cardamon ice cream. The food isn't mindblowing but it is delicious. I had no problem with portion size (unlike other reviews on this page) and looked around the room and all plates seemed normally portioned. I also think the prices are fair. I had an entree, a side, a glass of wine, dessert, +tip for around $40, I consider that very afforable! esp for the kind of place that puts so much attention and care into their menu and dining space which is very cozy and inviting. A good place to go for a low key evening with a friend.

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84 out of 173 people found this review helpful.

overpriced!

The staff was great, super nice and very knowledgeable. Interior decor was also simple and very pleasant. The food however was really nothing special and significantly overpriced for what you got. I'm really not impressed with this place and would not go again. The idea is great, i love local, sustainable products, but the portions need to be bigger and more flavorful.

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108 out of 208 people found this review helpful.

Unsatisfying

The food is delicious. The staff is incredibly nice. The interior, too, is wonderful and relaxing and done just right. So why did our dinner at Northern Spy leave a bad taste? Two reasons. Here's the first: Tiny portions. I mean, skimpy. Everyone at our table had an appetizer, a main, and a glass of wine--and yet we all had eat a second dinner when we got home. Why not throw three or four more gnocchi on the plate? Or if the proprietor believes that that would break the bank, why not put some bread on the table. I hear that's starting to get big at other restaurants. Our glasses of wine were half of what they should of been. This is all easy to fix and I hope that Northern Spy figures it out. The second reason why we were disappointed was that the hostess misjudged the wait time by 45 minutes. That's unforgivable.

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92 out of 171 people found this review helpful.

wow, very special

I've had brunch and lunch at Northern Spy, and was impressed, but dinner outdid itself. I went on Earth Day, which felt appropriate. I'm a vegetarian, friend with me not, and we were both ecstatic about our meal. I will be back!
The kale salad! sounds awful, but actually you just want more.
The freekeh (barley or something?) risotto! I didn't want it to end...
and yes, desserts a revelation. I sound like a paid staffer, but I'm not, just an east villager who loves to eat.

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144 out of 242 people found this review helpful.

Delicious, affordable new locavore spot!

I had a delicious dinner here -- porchetta over roasted vegetables and greens, celery root soup with creme fraiche, and the signature apple pie with almond semifreddo.
I had read one review that complained the food was flavorless and lacked salt -- absolutely not true. Some people are salt fiends and I really think that reviewer must have been; I found all the food well seasoned and balanced.
The service was friendly and prompt, with good suggestions. Very willing to answer questions about preparation and sourcing.
This is a place you can take all your friends that whine that eating sustainably is "too expensive" -- the food here is well priced and portioned. A great value for great food, and a perfect casual meal.

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97 out of 201 people found this review helpful.